Ton-up Bell puts England on top against Bangladesh

Ian Bell scored his third century against Bangladesh and shared a hundred stand with Matt Prior as England took charge of the second and final Test at Old Trafford here on Saturday.

England were 399 for seven in their first innings at lunch on the second day after Bell had made 128.

Together with Prior, 80 not out, he shared an England record sixth-wicket stand of 153 against Bangladesh, surpassing the 143 he put on with Tim Bresnan at Mirpur in March.

It seemed England would get through the session without losing a wicket until Bell was bowled by a fine ball from Bangladesh captain and left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan, which pitched on middle and leg before turning past the outside edge to hit the stumps.

Then Graeme Swann was lbw for 20 on the stroke of lunch to a quicker ball from left-arm spinner Abdur Razaak.

England resumed on 275 for five with Bell 87 not out and Prior 21 not out.

Bangladesh, 1-0 down in the two-match series after an eight-wicket loss at Lord's, had made England work hard for their runs on Friday before bad light forced an early close.

Recalled fast bowler Shafiul Islam took two early wickets while Bangladesh's spinners posed problems on a pitch taking turn.

There were no nervous 90s, however, for Bell -- who now averages 158.25 against Bangladesh.

He lofted Shakib over the bowler's head for four and then off-drove him for another boundary to go to 97.

Bell's three off the back foot against Razzak saw the 28-year-old Warwickshire right-hander to his 11th hundred in 56 Tests and third in five matches against Bangladesh.

He reached the landmark in 193 balls with a six and 11 fours in just over four hours, having come in when England were struggling at 83 for three.

Bangladesh, who took the new ball in Saturday's fourth over, almost had a wicket when Prior, on 29, miscued a hook off a Shafiul bouncer.

But Mohammad Mahmudullah, running in from deep square leg, bailed out of the catch at the last moment and the ball dropped just short of him.

Prior though kept playing his shots though and a cut four off Razzak took the wicketkeeper to a 106-ball fifty with five boundaries.

The Bangladesh flag was flown at half-mast, and the players wore black armbands, on a national day of mourning after a fire in Dhaka on Friday killed at least 117 people.